Cancellations caused by ongoing lockdowns sees income of Victorian event businesses fall by 80%

A newly released survey from Save Victorian Events has shown the damage done to the Victorian events sector by ongoing lockdowns with event businesses’ incomes falling by 81% during the period from April 2020 to May 2021.

The survey shows that from May to August this year the figure is even worse, with businesses earning on average just 14% of their normal income.

The recent lockdowns have resulted in 34% of Victorian event industry businesses having all their events and projects cancelled for the rest of the year, and a further 61% having most cancelled.

One in five businesses have lost over $1 million worth of business due to the lockdowns, while over a third (35%) have lost business worth between $200,000 and $1 million and 29% have lost between $50,000 and $200,000 worth of business.

The impact on the people who work in our industry in Victoria has also been huge, with businesses now down to on average only 40% of their permanent staff and only 16% of their freelancers, contractors and casual staff.

Only 27% of Victorian event industry businesses think they are likely to survive until the end of the year, with almost half (47%) of businesses not sure if they will survive or not. A quarter (26%) think they are unlikely or very unlikely to survive the year.

Commenting on the findings, Save Victorian Events spokesperson, Simon Thewlis stated “all of us in the event industry already know how difficult things are, so we don’t need a survey to remind us.

“Governments are now starting to talk about what can be possible once we get to 70% and 80% vaccinated. This is at least a start, but we know it is now a long and difficult road ahead.

“But the bottom line is that our industry needs real, substantial financial support and needs it now. We deserve vastly better support than we have received from the Federal and Victorian governments.”

Image: Event industry suppliers and carnival ride operators' vehicles circling the Victorian Parliament House on 18th March in protest at lack of support for the sector.